Invasive inspection of termites in termite control
An invasive termite inspection is often recommended on a termite inspection report or pre-purchase termite inspection report. Simply put, an invasive termite inspection is the next step that most pest managers will recommend when they understand that there is a great risk of termite damage or termite activity present in a structure that cannot be detected using standard termite practices. visual inspection for termites. .
It can be argued that before undertaking invasive termite inspection, that there are at least two (and possibly more) valid termite inspection tools that are non-invasive and therefore less expensive both to perform and to repair. the fact that they do not carry a repair bill as all invasive inspections do, these tools should be considered. They are thermal inspection and microwave inspection.
Techniques for Invasive Termite Inspection
- Using a borer to determine if there is termite slime
A borehole telescope is a piece of equipment that has either an optical lens arrangement or a camera and cable arrangement on a long, flexible cable/tube that can be inserted into a cavity to allow viewing of the interior. Generally speaking, in a home, this will require drilling holes in the walls to allow lens access between the wall studs. Mostly the holes will need to be drilled between each wall stud approximately 450mm to 600mm apart around all walls that are of particular interest and in some cases throughout the house. A borehole telescope can be used to look into any cavity that has the ability to create a hole that will fit through the lens, this includes dwarf brick walls, ceiling cavities, and under and behind kitchen cabinets. and the bathroom. The size of the hole that is necessary for access is usually 14mm.
- Removal of cutting timbers to reveal the extent of termite or mud activity
In areas where it is suspected that termites may be at work, this can often be positively determined by removing cut wood in areas of special concern. This may require the removal of baseboards, door frames, chair or picture rails, and architraves. The exact trim that must be removed varies from home to home and can only be determined on site once construction methods are determined. This method will generally not reveal the extent of termite damage.
- Plaster cut to reveal termite damage and function
Where exact measurement of termite damage to wood is required to be determined, the best way to accomplish this is the removal of plaster, typically to a height of around 300mm. This method will generally be employed with the help of thermal imaging and moisture gauges to reduce the amount of damage done to the walls, however the only true way to account for all termite damage is to keep cutting until there is no more termite or termite mud packs. damage can be found.